A TOTAL of 31 pupils and at least two teachers face fines for dropping litter in Glasgow during the first week of a controversial campaign.

The under-16s had the £50 fixed penalties sent to their homes after being caught by litter enforcement patrols outside 10 city schools.

The crackdown began last Monday as part of the £4million Clean Glasgow campaign.

It is understood at least two teachers were also caught dropping litter in the first five days, though officials admit that figure may be higher as teachers are automatically included in the list of adults who have been caught throughout the city.

Steven Purcell, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: "We are very pleased with the success of the first week of our schools enforcement programme.

"Through a combination of education and enforcement we can deter the minority of pupils who drop litter in and around their communities and that this will make Glasgow a cleaner and more pleasant place in which to live, learn and work."

Every one of the city's 29 state and six private secondary schools will be visited by wardens every day for a week - followed by a repeat visit for another week - over the next two months.

If a pupil is caught littering, a warden asks for their name and address.

Unlike adults, the youngsters are not handed the fixed penalty ticket, which must be paid within 14 days.

Instead, the fine is sent to the pupil's home address, which is checked with the school.

A letter is also sent to the child's parents explaining what has happened.

Parents of the 28,300 pupils at the council-run schools have been warned of the move in letters sent home with children.

Private schools have also been told of the campaign.

Glasgow City Council is focusing its schools campaign on areas near burger vans, takeaways and shops but not playgrounds.

If the children - or their parents - fail to pay within 14 days the council has the option of pursuing the fine via the courts where the maximum fine is £2500.

However, Glasgow council officials have admitted that, because of Scottish law, children won't be taken to court for refusing to pay a litter fine.

The plan to target schoolchildren has sparked debate with critics accusing the council of picking on pupils when they should be concentrating on the mess left by louts spilling out of venues after a night out.

But other residents are supportive, saying they are fed-up of the mess left in their communities by pupils.

So far 500 adults have been reported to prosecutors over unpaid fines in the year-long litter crusade, which is supported by the Evening Times.

As revealed last week, the number of people fined since the campaign began is 8000.

Businesses, including banks Halifax Bank of Scotland, have also been hit with 400 fines. Other retail offenders include Starbucks and Subway.